Executive Team

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Michael Dykes

President and CEO

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., a long-time government affairs strategist, agricultural policy expert, and veterinarian, became president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association in January 2017. In this role, he represents members that make more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States.

Since joining IDFA, Dykes has been a strong advocate for the importance of global competitiveness to the future of the U.S. dairy industry. He has made preserving trade partnerships with Mexico and improving Canadian market access for U.S. dairy exports in all future trade agreements a priority for IDFA.

Prior to assuming his role at IDFA, Dykes served as vice president of government affairs for Monsanto, where he was responsible for developing and implementing a portfolio of U.S. government relations strategies and programs that included agricultural biotechnology policy. He led Monsanto's office in Washington, D.C., and served as the company's primary point of contact for elected officials, regulatory authorities, U.S. farm organizations, key industry participants, trade associations, international organizations and embassies. He directed the company's efforts in state and local government affairs, in addition to government affairs in Mexico and Canada.

Dykes is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Academy of Practitioners. He has served on the Farmhouse Fraternity board for 3+ years. He is also a member of the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and has served on the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21).

Dykes grew up on a small dairy and tobacco farm in Kentucky. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University. He also attended the University of Kentucky where he received a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science. See LinkedIn profile.

J. David Carlin

Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Economic Policy

J. David Carlin leads the association's legislative, political and economic policy activities. He was a partner with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP until joining IDFA and has extensive experience in food and agriculture policy. Carlin has represented numerous food and agricultural companies, cooperatives and trade associations before the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

After graduating from Harvard Law School, Carlin joined Akin Gump in 1988. In 1995, President Bill Clinton appointed him to serve as Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations under Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman at USDA. As head of the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, Carlin served as the primary USDA liaison with Congress and the White House Office of Legislative Affairs. He returned to Akin Gump in 1998 to focus his practice on public law and policy matters. His interest in agricultural and public policy began on the family dairy farm founded by his grandfather in 1940. See LinkedIn profile.

Cary P. Frye

Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs

Cary Frye leads the association's regulatory team covering the areas of food safety, food defense, federal standards of identity, labeling, international Codex Alimentarius standards, nutrition policy, environmental and worker safety. With extensive experience in dairy product processing and quality assurance, Frye has served IDFA member companies for almost 20 years, representing member companies on food labeling and standards of identity, ingredient technologies, nutrition and health issues, and product safety.

She is active on domestic and international regulatory issues. As an active participant of the International Dairy Federation, Frye chairs the United States affiliate to IDF and is a member of the IDF Standing Committee on Standards of Identity and Labeling. She has been active in international standard-setting, advising U.S. delegations on Codex standards and has served as the head delegate for IDF at the Codex Committee on Food Labeling. She has also served on the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments’ Executive Board and Liaison Committee, and chairs the Conference’s Program Committee.

Her work has been published in professional journals and textbooks, including "Dairy Processing and Quality Assurance" and "Manufacturing Yogurt and Fermented Milks," published by Wiley-Blackwell Publishing and “Beverage Impacts on Health and Nutrition,” published by Humana Press. See LinkedIn profile.

Neil Moran

Senior Vice President, Finance, Administration & Trade Show

Moran directs the association's financial and accounting activities, as well as those related to human resources, information technology, administration and the biennial trade show.

Prior to joining IDFA, Moran served as chief financial officer for the National Capital Revitalization Corporation and for the RLA Revitalization Corporation, where he provided financial guidance relating to valuation, pricing and modeling of the corporations’ real estate development projects. Before that, Moran served as vice president of finance and CFO for Black's Guide, Inc., a commercial real estate information service, where he guided the company through the acquisition phase, as well as its subsequent sale. As CFO and director of finance and administration for the National Center on Education and the Economy, Moran was responsible for all financial and administrative functions.

Moran also served as the CFO for the Drug Policy Foundation, vice president of finance and administration for Sky Courier Network, and as vice president of finance for the Aeromaritime Group. After graduating from Georgetown University, he began his career in the Washington, D.C., office of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Thomas Wojno

Senior Vice President of Innovation and Member Advancement

Thomas Wojno is responsible for identifying and implementing innovative strategies to enhance IDFA services, expand its diverse membership and develop new opportunities for growth.

Prior to joining IDFA, Wojno served as vice president of member value and strategy for the National Restaurant Association. During his tenure, NRA’s membership grew by 300 percent in three years and increased the association’s member retention rate from 83 percent to 94 percent.

Wojno also served as vice president of resource development for America’s Promise, an alliance organization built by General Colin Powell to support better outcomes in education, and as director of corporate relations with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Wojno began his career in business development at Bloomberg LP.

Wojno received a bachelor’s degree in business and organizational communication from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. Wojno was the recipient of the 2016 Association Innovators awards, given by DC Live to those leaders driving growth and change in their respective associations and industries. See LinkedIn profile.

Heather Soubra

Chief of Staff

Soubra serves as a strategist, consultant and director of the association’s initiatives based on the priorities of the president and CEO, Michael Dykes, D.V.M. Soubra manages day-to-day operation of the executive office facilitating collaboration and inclusiveness across the organization to accomplish strategic goals. Soubra serves as the executive office liaison with IDFA members and members of the IDFA governance structure. She also handles IDFA program development and execution, including the annual Dairy Forum, the summer internship program, and managed the successful implementation of IDFA’s new governance structure.

A graduate of George Mason University, Soubra earned her degree in intercultural communication. She also is a graduate of The Protocol School of Washington where she earned certification in corporate etiquette and international protocol. She is fluent in Arabic. See LinkedIn Profile.